Student Speak

To bring or not to bring? What to pack when moving into Residence

Moving into residence was one of the highlights of my first year! However, packing was very stressful. I couldn’t figure out how I was going to pack my entire life into my mom’s Jeep while leaving room for my parents and myself. I ignored everyone who told me “LEAVE MOST OF IT AT HOME!” and I ended up making almost three trips and accumulated roughly four more carloads over the next eight months.

One of the great things about moving out of my childhood home was finding all of the old memories and purging my closet. I highly recommend selling or donating some of the old things that you don’t want or need anymore. I signed up for a VarageSale account and posted some things on Kijiji and made some cash to take with me to school. Check out my list of things below that I learned I definitely needed to bring and some of the things I found out were better to leave behind.

Must haves:

bed linens (suitable for a double-width, queen-length bed)

blankets, comforter, pillows

towels – bath, face, dish, etc.

laundry soap and fabric softener/dryer sheets

laundry basket (one on wheels is very convenient, so you don't end up going to the laundry room looking like me!)

toilet paper, garbage bags

shower curtain and rings

personal hygiene items

dishes, cutlery, glasses, mugs, etc.

books, pens, pencils, ruler, stapler, 3-hole punch, tape, etc.

clothes, hangers and closet organizers

cleaning supplies (Lysol wipes, dish soap, Windex, etc.)

personal comfort items – we all have those stuffed animals that we can’t live without!

food! Don’t forget your snacks, canned goods and if you don’t have a meal plan, groceries. Take advantage of your last grocery store trip with your parents.

cellphone, tablets and charge cables

small first aid kit

alarm clock with batteries (great backup in case of power outages)

Optional:

small furniture items (bookshelf, small dresser and night stand)

coffee maker or kettle

iron – with board

cookware such as pots and pans

toaster oven/toaster/blender/sandwich press

TV – each bedroom is equipped with a cable jack (there is a shared TV in the common area)

desktop computer

printer ( you can save money and use your print credits at a wireless printer on campus)

When thinking about the things you need to bring, don’t get overwhelmed by what you need to buy. We all know that university is expensive and it’s important to save money every chance you get. Talk to your roommate before moving in so you can divide up the list and see who can bring what, and be sure to check out the Dorm on a Dime blog to learn how you can decorate your dorm room on a tight budget.

Want to get a sneak peek of life on campus? Check out our virtual tour!